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The July 20, 2012, shooting at the Aurora multiplex left 12 dead and 58 wounded

Relatives of nine people killed last summer at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater said an invitation to attend an event on the eve of the remodeled complex's reopening is "disgusting" and "wholly offensive to the memory of our loved ones."

The Aurora Century 16 movie theater, where 12 people were killed and 58 were injured, is scheduled to reopen to the public January 18.

An e-mail sent to the families said Cinemark USA Inc. would hold a "special evening of remembrance" for invited guests the prior evening.

The invitation and the timing of it -- two days after Christmas -- infuriated relatives of nine of those killed. They signed a blunt letter to the theater chain's management.

"During the holiday we didn't think anyone or anything could make our grief worse but you, Cinemark, have managed to do just that," the letter began.

Colorado movie theater massacre 51 photos

Colorado movie theater massacre51 photos

Colorado movie theater shooting – The public gets its first glimpse of James Holmes, 24, the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting during his initial court appearance Monday, July 23. With his hair dyed reddish-orange, Holmes, here with public defender Tamara Brady, showed little emotion. He is accused of opening fire in a movie theater Friday, July 20, in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and wounding 58 others. More photos: Mourning the victims of the Colorado theater massacre

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Police release the official photo from Holmes' booking after the shooting.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Holmes often had a blank stare during his court appearance Monday, appearing to be in a daze.

Colorado movie theater shooting – Flags fly at half-staff Monday at the Arapahoe County Courthouse in Centennial, Colorado, where the movie theater shooting suspect had his first court appearance. The prosecutor held a press conference outside the courthouse.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers talks to reporters Monday before heading into the courthouse. Chambers said the decision on whether to pursue the death penalty is a long process that involves input from victims and their families.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Family members of the victims arrive at the courthouse Monday for the suspect's first court appearance.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – The Century Aurora 16 multiplex in Aurora becomes a place of horror after a gunman opened fire Friday in a crowded theater. At least 17 people remained hospitalized late Sunday, July 22, in the shooting rampage that shocked the nation.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Holmes is accused of opening fire during a midnight screening of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." Holmes purchased four weapons and more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition in recent months, police say.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Police investigate outside the Century 16 multiplex Saturday, July 21, a day after the mass shooting. Authorities have been tight-lipped about a possible motive in the case.

Colorado movie theater shooting – People mourn the victims during a vigil behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers in Aurora.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – A woman grieves during a vigil for victims behind the theater.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – A distraught woman receives counseling from Pastor Quincy Shannon, left, in front of Gateway High School in Aurora, where the families of the missing met following the shooting.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Lin Gan of Aurora holds back tears as she speaks to reporters about her experience in the Century 16 theater Friday.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – People embrace before a vigil for victims behind the theater where a gunman opened fire on moviegoers.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Investigators work on evidence near the apartment of James Holmes on Friday.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Members of the Aurora Police Department SWAT unit walk near the apartment of James Holmes. Police have Holmes, 24, of North Aurora, in custody.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Television news crews gather in front of the home of Robert and Arlene Holmes, parents of 24-year-old mass shooting suspect James Holmes, in San Diego, California, on Friday.

Colorado movie theater shooting – An NYPD officer keeps watch inside an AMC move theater where the film "The Dark Knight Rises" is playing in Times Square on Friday. NYPD is maintaining security around city movie theaters following the deadly rampage in Aurora, Colorado.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Adariah Legarreta, 4, is comforted by her grandmother Rita Abeyta near the Century 16 Theater in Aurora.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – A cyclist and pedestrians pass a theater showing the latest Batman movie in Hollywood, California, on Friday. Warner Brothers said it was "deeply saddened" by Friday's massacre at a Colorado screening of "The Dark Knight Rises."

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Obama supporters observe a moment of silence for the victims at a campaign event at Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers, Florida, on Friday.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sportscaster, was one of the victims.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – A woman waits for news outside Gateway High School, a few blocks from the scene of the shooting at the Century Aurora 16.

Colorado movie theater shooting – Investigators were a common sight at the theater Friday.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Authorities gather at the shooting suspect's apartment building in Aurora. Police broke a second-floor window to look for explosives that the suspect claimed were in the apartment.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – Screaming, panicked moviegoers scrambled to escape from the black-clad gunman, who wore a gas mask and randomly shot as he walked up the theater's steps, witnesses said.

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Colorado movie theater shooting – University of Colorado Hospital spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery said that all of the wounded had injuries from gunshot wounds, ranging from minor to critical.

The letter calls the Cinemark event a publicity ploy from a company that is oblivious to the emotional strain on the families of the victims.

"Our family members will never be on this earth with us again and a movie ticket and some token words from people who didn't care enough to reach out to us, nor respond when we reached out to them to talk, is appalling," the letter reads.

The group says it will urge others to boycott "the killing field of our children."

In December, the office of Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan announced the private event for victims and their families, first responders, local leaders and "to those working on the community healing process." The mayor and Gov. John Hickenlooper areexpected to attend the event.

James Holmes is accused of going on a shooting spree during a midnight screening of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises" July 20, 2012, at the movie complex. He faces 152 charges.

Several victims' families and survivors have filed lawsuits against Cinemark USA, Inc.